Page 36 of Tasteful Anarchy and Tangled Auras
“You must be Bryn.” Ossy sounds pleased. “I’m glad to meet my mate’s other mate. We shall keep her safe.” I can hear the smile in his voice. He’s so...easy. He’s the opposite of my dark,broody, hides-his-true-self male here, and the thought makes my heart soar.
A terse nod. “You are Osmund.”
“Our mate calls me Ossy. We are a family now; you can call me that, too, if you’d like.”
His words warm my heart. A family. I’ve never had a family that truly cares for each other.
Bryn’s attention shifts to me. “Oh, you’re awake, are you, sneak?” and he plants a kiss on my nose. I’m shocked he’d do that in front of Ossy. I feel a crazy urge to take them both, now, here, but I shake the idea out of my head. I doubt either are the sharing type.
Bryn sits up, still fantastically naked. “If you’re awake, the three of us need to speak.”
I groan. “Ossy, throw me that robe, please?” and drag myself upright. “I’m not sure I’m in the mood for a heart-to-heart right now.”
Bryn snorts. “What gave you that impression? What we need to do is catch Ossy up on the clusterfuck that is Court and the EA. Unless you’ve done that already.” He lifts an eyebrow. He knows I haven't.
“Let me retrieve food for us all,” Ossy says.
Bryn flicks a glance to me as Ossy leaves the room. “He’s useful, hmm?”
I swat his thigh gently. “Don’t be jealous.”
He leans in and kisses me softly. “I am not. As long as you’re mine as well, I will never be jealous of you having another mate. Especially one who will help keep you safe here, since you are a reckless creature with no concern for her own safety. And most especially a mate who seems to carry a piece of your heart as well.”
Then he grins wickedly. “Just as I expect you to accept a tall, buxom, blond Viking female who wants to be in my bed day and night if we have a mate bond.”
I growl and grab him, pulling him to me.
“Hypocrite,” he drawls. But then he chuckles and tucks my body to his and I melt into him.
Ossy comes in smiling. “Little mate, you feel different along our bond. It’s good.” He sets down a tray with cheese, olives, crackers, and full wine glasses. “More relaxed.”
Bryn raises his eyebrows.
“The details his FEC has retained of mates far outstrips ours,” I answer.
Ossy nods. “But, Bryn, you said we need to speak of matters here at Court. I would like to hear more.”
It strikes me that I’ve underestimated him. I haven’t bothered to explain much of things around here, besides a very basic overview. Have I simply been distracted by the mind-blowing and near-constant sex we’ve been having?
I sigh. “Ossy, I’m sorry. I should have told you myself.”
His hand strokes my thigh. “It’s alright, baby.”
Osmund
MY SWEET ADI HAS APOLOGIZEDto me. It makes me smile. She cares for my thoughts and doesn’t want my feelings hurt. It’s a kindness and it fans the hope that she’s starting to fall in love with me.
A mate bond doesn’t mean love. It means a soul connection, an aura connection, lust; but it does not guarantee love. Like all love, that takes work. And I’ve been trying my best to win her heart. She is a fierce little thing, and I’m half in love with her already.
“Tell me of things here. I have sensed some court tension.”
Bryn laughs sardonically. “That’s an understatement.” He takes a deep breath. “Shit is fucked, to put it delicately, Ossy, and I’m glad you’re here to help. There is a group of Fae that have infiltrated each FEC. They, we, want to dissolve our borders and live freely. Most of the group, called the EA, believe the way to do this is to dismantle any monarchy and replace it with a democracy. Some feel it is more important to free any indentured or enslaved servants first. Either way, things have reached a boiling point with many members advocating that violent revolution is the only way forward.”
I roll this around my head for a moment. “You said...we. Is our mate embroiled in this?” My hands flex. Even ignorant of the finer details of the Court, I do know that Adi is in line for the throne and that many here are not pleased with that. This revolutionary nonsense does not sound safe for my mate.
Adi cringes as Bryn answers. “Yes. I’m their head captain, and Adi asked the heads of the organization for entry to the inner circle.”
I rub a hand over my face as I shake my head.
